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Thanksgiving Dinner to Go: A Guide for Philadelphia’s Non-Cooks

Does the thought of cooking for Thanksgiving fill you with dread? Leave the cooking to the pros and enjoy a Thanksgiving meal prepared by one of Philly’s best restaurants. Dine in or make it look like homemade by bringing the meal home.

Thanksgiving is the holiday for cooks — it’s a time to show off your skills in the kitchen and to welcome people into your home. But what if your cooking skills never advanced past making toast? In Philadelphia, that’s no big deal. A number of the city’s renowned restaurants and markets offer either dine-in meals or Thanksgiving dinner to go. Celebrate all you have to be thankful for this holiday, without stressing about burning the stuffing or making the mashed potatoes lumpy.

Have a Turkey-Less Turkey Day

If you don’t eat any type of meat or anything containing animal products, Turkey Day can be a problematic holiday. Instead of confining yourself to celery sticks and olives, consider ordering Thanksgiving dinner to go from an all-vegan meal delivery service. In South Philadelphia, Miss Rachel’s Pantry offers a relatively affordable animal-free Thanksgiving menu. Meals start at $26 for a portion that serves one. You can order a dinner for up to eight people for $185. The traditional Thanksgiving turkey is replaced with either a seitan loaf or a tempeh-lentil roast for people who are also gluten-free. Miss Rachel’s is taking orders until the Friday before the holiday, and will deliver the meals the Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Do Some Good with Your Meal

Thanksgiving is about taking the time to give thanks for all that you have. What if you could be thankful and help others with the meal you order? Percy Street Barbecue, a restaurant from the team behind Federal Donuts and Zahav, will donate one turkey to a food bank for every turkey it sells. You can order a 15-pound smoked turkey on its own from the restaurant for $75 or go all out and get an entire meal to feed up to eight for $250. The full meal includes mashed sweet potatoes, stuffing, collard greens, baked apples, and a pecan pie.

Enjoy Some History

Philly is a city teeming with history. Even though Thanksgiving wasn’t an official holiday back in the colonial era, you can still enjoy a taste of history on Turkey Day by making a reservation at the City Tavern. The historical restaurant will be serving a Thanksgiving meal similar to what people would have enjoyed in the 18th century. Roasted free-range turkey takes center stage, although other options — including a fried tofu supposedly favored by Ben Franklin — are also available. The prix-fixe meal is available for dine-in, only and reservations are required.

Take in Some Waterfront Views

Try something different this Thanksgiving by enjoying your holiday meal on board the Moshulu, the oldest rigged sailing vessel still on the water. Moshulu has been a restaurant in some form or another since 1975 and has been located at its current location since 2002. For Thanksgiving, the restaurant will be offering an à la carte menu from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. Menu options include fish, as well as a spiced brined turkey.

While Thanksgiving should be a time of rest and relaxation, the hassle of meal prep can often make it stressful. This Thanksgiving, say no to stress and mess by ordering your meal to go or to dine in at your home. When you’re not the one doing the cooking, you’ll find you might actually enjoy the holiday.